Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-12
MARRIAGE IN INDIA.
POlYGAMY AND OTHER CUSTOMS
AMONG THE hlNOOOS.

Plurality of wives Almost Entirely Alb
jur.d by the English Educated Natives.
No Domestic Peace for the Poly ygami.t.
StAtistic- Of Marriage.
Polygamy is All old institution in India.
In tn. ancient times poygamy was the
general rule, and monogany the exception.
Hindoo law givers advised polygamy and
sanctioned every man 10 take many wives
As he could afford During the Muslem domi-
nation the custom received "A fresh impetus,
owing to the Mohanime,,ans following the
same practice When the English conquered
the country polygamy was rampant in the
land, but when English education was in
troiuced and it began TO exercise a civilizing
effect on the minds of the people, the custom
received rude shock. though not death
blow.
Bv the English educated men the custom
has been almost entirely ahjured One can
scarcely meet an Indian who has received an
education in some of the Indian universities
indulging in the barbarous and unnatural
habit Of taking more than one wife. Almost
every educated Indian thinks polygamy a
foolishness, harbarity, sin. But the
number of educated men in India is even now
2s3 900 600, and of these about 2,o0O,O1O at
the utmost can boast Of universal education
of anv value Among the uneducate'i polyg
amy is still prevalent, but not TO a wide ex-
tent. The last census is defective, inasmuch
as il does not give the number Of males who
,pssess more than one wife. But it can be
safely asserted that about one-eighth OF the
male population of India are Observers Of the
custom Of pOlygamy.
ENTENT OF POLYGAMY.
About fifteen years ago private attempt
was made in a certain district in Bengal To
find out TO what extent did polygamy prevail
among the better classes Of the community.
The inquiry almost thorough, and the re-
suit was interesting 1t was discovered that
about 1900 men had two wives, about 100
three. about 400 four, about 100 from five to
six, sixty men had from seven To ten, and
one man forty But this was fifteen years
ago and fifteen years in these days OF transi-
ton makes a great difference. | may conf
IDENTIFY assert that AT the present moment
there is scarcely a single person, excepting
the petty ajahs. Of course, who has got SO
many as forty wives. The number Of men
having three wives is now considerably less
than ten years ago. The number OF hus
does not seem to have decreased greatly. The
cause Of this is that the Hindoo, having q
belief that dying without issue is peculiarly
unfortunate. is obliged to take a second wife
when lie has no children by the first Again,
one would marry a second time owing to
differences with his first wife, or il she be not
according to his liking, or If suffering from
some incurable disease.
of sfTNTt n nthf in
furious to the physical and moral well being
of the persons concerned. and to that Of the
community to which they belong. Besides,
there Is no domestic peace for the man who
commits the folly OF taking unto himself two
or more wives. No agreement OF feelings is
euer seen among the women who claim one
man rs their husband. Perpetual discord
reigns among them. making life to their un-
happy husbands simply intolerable. Love
potions, often containing substances deleteri-
Gus to health, are not unknown in India and
many Hindoo wives Of poiygamous husbands
are known to have administered them TO
their lords to test their love. Numerous in
stances have happened in which the potion,
instead OF proving the husbands love. has
proved its potency in putting q speedy end 70
his life Conjugal felicity is completely un-
known to the husband Of several wives. But
! i; must be mentioned that there are cases Of
exception, i'll which the husband is fortunate
enough to see all his wives conteuted with
their lot, all loving him with equal warmth,
and all endeavoring to secure his happiness
ABHoRHENCE OF THE CUSTOM.
The general attitude toward the custom,
though not decidedly antagonistic, is one Of
abhorrence About fifteen years ago an agi-
nv "a ytyc- ta.l H,pIc<>
savant in order to have law passed by gov
ernment making bigamy a crime. Many per-
sons Joined the agitation and made great en-
deavors to have the good object accom-
plished But as the opinions of Hindu law
givers were not all opposed to polygamy, and
as a party, though small, organized counter
agitation the government could take no
steps. The present general opinion is that
there is no Use Of legislative interference, as
the custom is gradually dying out, owing to
people To my mind, the general opinion on
! the subject is quite reasonable.
/ There is not one, but many marriage Gus
toms in India. The Hindoos are divided
| chiefly into three great sects, but there are
many sub-sects, and the marriage customs Of
! these sects and sub-sects, although agreeing
/ IN the man, uiueT III many PshtiSuia'S DC
sides the Hindoos there are Buddhists, Janis,
/ Sil.hs, Mohammeians and aborisines in In
/ dia, and the marriage customs OF all these re-
/ iigious denominations greatly differ. Among
the aboriSines, again, there are several dis
/ tinct rites, and their marriage rites do not re-
semble each other except in some insigniti-
| cant particulars.
! According to the latest census, which was
] t,ly. in fh.re ~ married
males and a. 5SS, 20 married females; 5,G1S,-